Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-02-17
A Cincinnati Seance.
Cincinnati ENQUIRER.

Cincinnati Enquirer.
Mr.. Harry J. Baxter, the noted Boston
spiritualistic medium, entertained and
astOnished an immense crowd at Mem
oral hall, No. lis West Sixth Street, last
night. The rooms where the meeting
was held could not contain one half the
people who came to see and hear. Every
inch of space was crowded, and at least
two eager seekers for admittance were
turned away with disappointment. Mr..
Baxter is handsome gentleman, with
an air of culture about him which
challenges attention. He delivered lee
of an hours length on "Spiritualism and
What 1t has Done for the World" and,
preceding and following his address, he
sang several selections, with considerable
expression and effect. Finally he began
his tests, for which most of the audience
was present. The assemblage was made
up of believer and skeptic and both ex-
hibited the keenest interest in that por-
ton of the proceedings which was sup
posed to UNITE the jewellers in this space
with the inhabitants of the next. Mr..
Baxter did not pretend to GO into trance
state. He said he was in his normal con-
dition, but controlled and directed by
spirits from the outer world. His revcl-
ations and communications were given
with impressive dramatic powers, and ap-
propiateness. The first apparition that
came across the mediums visual organ
was that of a young woman. 'She says
she has friends here, and she sends them
all her good will and benediction. The.
name is Jennie McKee,
The spirit WIS recognized by the
he
ter.
"While I was singing continued Mr..
Baxter, II was impressed by the spirit of
white haired man, who is not as old as
he seems to be. He has been in the
spirit world some time. The number ~
Eastern avenue rises before me. He says
he had friends there but they are now
scattered. He SAYS his name is Mitchell,
O. M. w. Mitchell and some of his peo-
pie are now living at Akron. There is an
impression of a railroad depot, but 1
can't tell whether he was killed by the
cars or not. | can see them shifting
backward and forward"
A lady in the audience said the spirit
was thet of her husband. He had given
his last message to friend in the depot,
and had died suddenly. The accuracy
of Mr.. Baxter's description caused
murmur of excitement in the audience,
but a still more inexplicable test follow
ed. II see two men," remarked Mr.. Bax-
ter, standing under light in Coving
ton. I can read on a large sign the word
undertaken One of the men is older
than his com panion, and they are talking
about visiting this plt.ce tonight One
of them hesitates and reluctantly follows
his companion. They saunter leisurely
across the bridge, and someone tells
them the place of the meeting is lis
West Sixth street. They come into the
meeting late. [ am of the impression
that they are in the rear of the hall now
To the establishment of everyone, and
the delight of the faithful, the tive men
spoke up and declared that the statement
Of the medium was true in every detail
This was one of the most convincing
tests of the evening and the people look
ed at each other in amazement.
The next spirit which made itself known
through Mr.. Baxter was that of Annie
GerretsOn. Her mother, who was present,
recognized 1t and the names of other re-
latives mentioned. The medium said the
woman as he saw her was clasping a child
to her breast, but the mother of departed
said that couldn't be true unless it was
some other wOman's child, because she
had none of her own. Mr.. Baxter replied
that there were some things which could
only be revealed in private.
A gentleman in the gallery said he knew
a little girl, who was described, but he de-
clared her name wasn't Lizzie, as stated |
by Mr.. Baxter.
II see an old gray-headed man, and an
other man with him. He says his name
is Carter and his companions name is
Clendenin. His initials are A. G. W. |
Carter. The two men are friends in the |
spirit world, renewing an intimacy begun
on this earth. They live together, and |
will welcome their friends to the home be-
yond."
Every one present knew the dead men
to were DR.. Clendenin and Judge |
Carter.
"There comes tall man who wants to
send message to j. w. He calls his
friend Jacob, and signs the initials j.
L. R."
The Jacbb referred to responded, and
said the ethereal visitor was Jas. L. Rufin,
at one time chief of police.
Mrs. John Howe came to the medium
and said her cid and trusted servant, An
ME Brown is with her. Among the ether
celestial residents who were invoked were